Knee dislocations are true orthopedic emergencies. In addition to the knee joint being out of place, the nerves and blood vessels that supply the leg are at risk for injury and can threaten the viability. view

Patellofemoral syndrome encompasses a spectrum of conditions that can involve the kneecap (patella), quadriceps muscle group, iliotibial band (ITB), hamstrings, as well as the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). view

The knee is one of the most well-perfused (good blood supply) areas of the human body and because of this ample blood supply to the knee, circulating white blood cells offer excellent protection against infection. view

KNEE INFECTION

Pathology

The knee is one of the most well-perfused (good blood supply) areas of the human body and because of this ample blood supply to the knee, circulating white blood cells offer excellent protection against infection. Consequently a knee infection is a rare condition. In spite of this, there are certain conditions that predispose individuals to having a knee infection:

A penetrating knee injury that is not cleaned and repaired properly. All penetrating injuries should seek medical advice for prophylactic antibiotics, a tetanus booster if one has not been received within a 10 year period for clean injuries and within a five year period for dirty wounds.

Postoperative wound infection is another cause of a knee infection. During the post-operative period, the fresh wound has not yet sealed and because of this, the organisms that are normal skin flora can penetrate a wound and cause an infection. This is why patients after surgery are advised to keep the dressing on and the wound dry for at least one week after surgery.

After a joint replacement (arthroplasty), there is a risk of infection if similar care is not provided to the post-operative wound. The risk of infection is higher after a joint replacement since the implant is a foreign object in the human body and organisms (bacteria) can hide and avoid antibiotics that are given. Individuals can also seed an implant in the body from infections elsewhere, such as a tooth abscess. This is why prophylactic antibiotics are recommended when visiting a dentist for a dental procedure after a patient has had a joint replacement.

A patient with a weak immune system, because of a chronic medical condition, is at an increased risk of developing a knee infection. Patients with diabetes, kidney failure, and/or inflammatory conditions, on immunosuppressive medication that suppress the protective effects of the immune system, are all at an increased infection risk. Similarly, a patient with HIV or AIDS that has had a penetrating injury, surgery or any blood-borne infection is also at an increased risk of developing a hip infection.

Treatment

The treatment of a knee infection depends on several factors which include:

The initial cause of the infection

Whether the infection is superficial or deep

The length of time the infection has been present

The type of organism causing the infection

The general medical condition and nutrition of the patient

When an infection is superficial, oral antibiotics, warm soaks and resting the extremity may be adequate treatment. If the infection has spread and lymph node involvement, fever, chills or other systemic symptoms accompany the infection, hospital admission for intravenous antibiotics/fluids and systemic support is preferred. If the infection is loculated, fluctuant, or an abscess has formed, it is a surgical condition requiring incision and drainage.

When a joint replacement has been done, it is prudent to admit the patient to the hospital to possibly wash out the wound. If the infection of the joint replacement occurs within 3 weeks of the initial surgery and the infection is deemed “acute”, surgery usually involves washing out the wound, replacing the plastic liner between the metal implants, and retaining the knee replacement components that were originally implanted. If the infection of the joint replacement has occurred more than 3 weeks after the initial surgery and the infection is deemed “chronic”, surgery often involves washing out the wound, removing all of the knee replacement components, and placing an antibiotic cement spacer. After the organism that caused the infection has been identified, the patient is given at least 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics to eradicate the infection. Once the infection has been completely cleared, a revision knee replacement surgery may be scheduled to remove the cement spacer and reimplant the knee replacement components. If the patient’s medical health or immune status is compromised, fully treating the infection and leaving the cement spacer in place or leaving the joint without an implant may be the best option.